In 2020 applications for consultant jobs to PAS totalled 470
The State-run Public Appointments Service has underlined ‘new challenges’ in relation to medical consultant recruitment this year, with the announcement by the Health Service Executive (HSE) of a significant increase in new medical consultant posts and the introduction of Sláintecare.
However, the service stated in its latest annual report, it would continue to strive to recruit the best medical consultants for the public health service in Ireland and do so in the most efficient and effective manner.
The Public Appointments Service carries out the recruitment for a number of medical consultants while some posts are filled directly by the HSE, said the report. Even with the disruption of the pandemic, 119 posts had been advertised in 2020 (94 acute and 25 psychiatry), an increase of 13 per cent on 2019 and 89 candidates (69 acute and 20 psychiatry) had been recommended for appointment to the HSE.
The appointments service (PAS) received 470 applications during the year for medical consultant posts, resulting in 107 people assigned to posts or recommended for positions.
In response to Covid-19, PAS had delivered under significant pressure in the area clerical and administrative recruitment, including responding to priority requests for clerical staff from clients most impacted, including the Department of Health and the HSE, and filling these vacancies at short notice.
An additional batch of graduate recruits from the 2019 Administrative Officer competition had been assessed and assigned to the Department of Health in November 2020.
A new stream, specifically for the health area, had been advertised and managed for the graduate level intake in 2020, and assignments are to be made early in 2021, added the report.
